School chief gives back extra vacation, sick days

Feb. 9, 2008

State education chief Jon Draud returned the extra time off after criticism by the governor and others.

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Less than a day after the state Board of Education granted him extra sick time and vacation days, Education Commissioner Jon Draud is giving it back.

"In light of the criticism by Gov. (Steve) Beshear and others reported by the media, I will not accept the additional sick leave and vacation time that was granted to me by the Kentucky Board of Education," Draud said yesterday in a statement. "It is very important to me that my tenure be viewed as ethical and placing the interest of children as my highest priority."

Acting on a request from Draud, the board on Thursday voted unanimously to give him 20 days of annual leave each year, instead of the 12 days he was entitled to as a new state employee, and a one-time bonus of 30 sick-leave days.

But the vote prompted some, including Beshear, to question whether the increase was appropriate, given the state's budget shortfall.

"I question the appearance this creates during this time of financial crisis," Beshear said Thursday. "I trust that the state board took that into consideration before making its decision."

The Kentucky Department of Education had to cut $11.6 million from its budget this year and has been asked by Beshear to cut an additional $46 million next fiscal year to help offset flagging revenue.

Joe Brothers, chairman of the Kentucky Board of Education, said yesterday that the board will likely honor Draud's request to give back the extra time off.

"We will have to make a decision and vote on it, but I am pretty sure that most board members will honor his desires," Brothers said.

If the board accepts Draud's request, he will go back to what his original contract called for -- 7.5 hours of sick leave and 7.5 hours of annual leave each month.

Education Secretary Helen Mountjoy, who oversees the department Draud runs, said she was pleased to hear of his decision yesterday.

"It was the right thing to do," she said.

Draud, who started in December, signed a four-year contract worth $220,000, plus benefits and relocation and housing expenses.

He has more than 30 years of experience as an educator. Before becoming commissioner, Draud was a state legislator and worked at Northern Kentucky University.

Draud said he requested the additional time because at the time he signed his contract, he assumed that the sick days and vacation from his time at Northern Kentucky would transfer to his new position.

It wasn't until after he started as commissioner that he found out that wasn't true, Draud said.

Sick leave has no cash value, but it can increase a state employee's retirement check because any remaining leave is put through a formula that assigns a "worth" that raises the total payment.

Like other state employees, Draud's hours may be "banked," meaning he can carry them over at the end of the year. He is also limited to 240 hours of compensatory time. Any more converts to sick leave, as does anything exceeding 450 hours of vacation.

Draud said he felt his request was "minimal and reasonable." And board members who attended the meeting agreed.

Brothers said the board was simply trying to correct an oversight.

"We just wanted to be fair," he said. "Any top executive that would have come in would have likely requested about the same amount of time."

Richard Innes, an education analyst with the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions who questioned the board's decision, said he was happy that Draud reconsidered.

"It's refreshing … and it's definitely a step in the right direction," he said.